Your complete guide to throwing a Vogue summer party

One can only guess what makes actor-chef David Burtka’s parties so legendary that they are spoken about with the same fervour across social circles in LA and New York. Is it because he is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef? Or the founder of Gourmet MD, a catering company that has thrown parties for clients like Katy Perry and Elon Musk? Or does it have something to do with a catchphrase made famous by Barney Stinson, endearingly portrayed by his real-life partner, Neil Patrick Harris.

We may soon know as Burtka shares his hard-earned party wisdom in the book, Life Is A Party: Deliciously Doable Recipes To Make Every Day A Celebration, out this month. Named after his award-winning food show, this party tome reveals gems like Burtka’s favourite number of guests (eight!), breakdown of ice maths per party (2 1/2 cups per guest), alongside every detail imaginable on tablescapes, themes, palettes and playlists.

Over 15 years of being married to Patrick Harris, the avid entertainer has hosted everything from brunches to black-tie bashes. And now as a father to Harper and Gideon, little has changed. “We didn’t stop entertaining. We simply reconfigured how we entertain,” notes Burtka. He shares how his twins get involved in the party prep: “I have a list of jobs they can do, from picking herbs to helping with baking, polishing silver, folding napkins… You can have kids do anything like pounding cutlets to crushing things like breadcrumbs or peppermints.” Organised by the four seasons, Life Is A Party features seasonal party themes from game nights to garden lunches to adult Halloween along with recipes and tips to help you bring your A-game on. Here, the consummate party host shares some of his lessons from a lifetime of entertaining.

One pre-hosting party ritual you always follow?

I always make a playlist, and while I’m prepping for the party I listen to that playlist to make sure it’s the right vibe.

Your signature party punch?

Lillet and soda.

An entertaining hack that never fails to impress?

If you order takeout, put it on your own platters. Make it look like you did it yourself.

Best time to send out invitations?

A month before—people’s schedules are so busy that I try to do it at least three weeks in advance. We live in a world of nonstop planning, and some people’s schedules book up months in advance.

Menu matters

Hawaiian poke is an on-trend party staple. Image: Getty

I’m big on clean, Mediterranean, simple flavours, and cooking rustic and clean dishes. Detroit-style pizza, Hawaiian poke, and explosion cakes (cakes with a hollow centre, where all the candy falls out when you cut it) are very popular right now.

Your party prep checklist?

Lighting is important—it can totally set the mood.

Set your table the night before.

Make sure you have a seating chart.

Make a playlist.

Pick out your party outfit the night before.

Have a list of jobs people can do to be involved once they arrive.

The best gift to take to a Vogue summer party?

Homemade items make for good favours and gifts. Image: Getty

Anything homemade, anything that comes from the heart. Snack mix, mixed nuts, a loaf of bread, homemade granola. If you do bring flowers make sure they’re in a vase so that the host doesn’t have to stop what they’re doing to cut flowers.

Go-to tableware brands

Kim Seybert decanter for an upscale party, and Q squared melamine and outside dishware for a kid-friendly party.

The easiest way to ensure there’s never a dull moment?

‘Original’ cards Table Topics, Rs 1,800

TableTopic cards. I think they’re fun for dinner parties or to kill a lull in the conversation or if a conversation gets tense. The more provocative and funny and risqué cards are fun for an adult dinner party. The ones that make people think and challenge kids are best for families.

An absolute no-no for you while entertaining at home?

Don’t be stressed! Enjoy your own party. Don’t freak out the whole time and think you can do it all yourself. Call in help.

One party etiquette we need to follow in this ever-connected age?

Put your phone away! Don’t bring it out at dinner. There’s a game you can play where everyone puts their phones in the centre of the table and whoever grabs theirs first has to do all the dishes.

Life Is A Party by David Burtka releases on Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette, this month